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April 1, 2013

G1: Red Sox 8, Yankees 2

Jacoby Ellsbury and Jose Iglesias each had three hits, Shane Victorino drove in three runs, and Jackie Bradley and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each walked three times, as the Red Sox spent a windy but relaxing Opening Day afternoon in the Bronx.

It was Boston's first Opening Day win in three years, and it snapped New York's streak of winning season openers at home at 11, dating back to 1986.

The highlight of the game was how patient Bradley was at the plate in four of his five appearances, despite whatever nervousness the 22-year-old rookie must have been feeling. Batting for the first time in the second inning, with two runners on base, he fell behind Sabathia 0-2, but battled back, taking a couple of very close pitches to work a seven-pitch walk. He walked in the fifth and walked and scored in the ninth. He also drove in a run with a hard groundout in the seventh. And he made an outstanding catch in deep left, hauling in a line drive by Robinson Cano to end the third inning.

Lester (5-5-2-2-7, 96) had only one rough inning - the fourth, when he loaded the bases on a double by Kevin Youkilis, an eight-pitch walk to Vernon Wells, and a single by Ichiro Suzuki. After Lester struck out Jayson Nix for the second out, it looked as if the man once known as Houdini might wiggle out of the jam, but Francisco Cervelli lined a two-run single to left.

The bullpen was also stellar. Koji Uehara retired the side on only five pitches in the sixth. Andrew Miller walked the first two batters in the seventh but then got two strikeouts, and Andrew Bailey got another whiff for the third out. Junichi Tazawa pitched the eighth and, because he was already warmed up, Joel Hanrahan finished up in the ninth.

Lester had a superb spring: in 24 innings, he allowed only eight hits and four walks, while striking out 20. He gave up two runs for a 0.75 ERA. ... Clay Buchholz was equally impressive: 0.79 in 22.2 innings.

The rest of the series: Buchholz/Kuroda on Wednesday night and Dempster/Pettitte on Thursday night.

Jackie Bradley, Jr. has changed his uniform number from 74 to 44. ... Yook is wearing #36.

The Red Sox's first 13 games are against AL East teams. ... Chat during today's game here.

David Ortiz hopes to begin playing in minor league rehab games by early next week. He did some running on Monday and said his sore heels feel "more stable" now than they did for most of spring training.

SoSHer SouthernBoSox:Bradley "was the most impressive batter to play today and it wasn't particularly close. It's not that he is drawing walks. It's that he's doing it with ease. He just isn't swinging at balls. It's that simple. He isn't trying to be patient, he just has a god given eye. He laid off some ridiculous breaking balls today. The one from Joba in the 2-2 pitch was insane. No one lays off that pitch, and he didn't even consider it."

Hi, folks - no, I didn't fall off the face of the Earth. Unfortunately had to work yesterday afternoon (boo) but listened to some of the game during the commute home and heard Boston score the three runs late (yes!). Nice win for the good guys. :-)